by Stacy-Deanne
“Cross.”
“You’re leaving?” He leaned over on the bed to where his face was only inches from hers. “You’re really leaving right now?”
“I didn’t know how to tell you.”
“How about just open your mouth and say it?” He moved from the bed. “Is this what you normally do? Get people to care about you then you just leave?”
“I tried so many times to tell you, but I didn’t know how.” She grabbed a blouse. “This is hard for me, too. I’m gonna miss you a lot.”
He stood against the wall with his arms crossed. “Right.”
“I’m serious, Cross. You don’t know how deeply you’ve touched me. Because of you, I feel better than I have in years.” She caressed the blouse. “But I can’t hide in this place forever. I got a life and two young ladies who need me and…damn it…” She threw the blouse in the suitcase. “It’s time I’m there for them. I can’t keep disappointing them or myself.”
“What am I gonna do?” His eyes filled with tears. “You’re the only thing in this place I look forward to.”
“You know what you have to do.” She walked to him and rubbed his arm. “You’ve gotta leave, Cross. You can’t keep hiding. You know damn well you don’t belong here.”
“It’s so hard.” He wiped tears. “Out there I have nobody.”
“That’s not true. You have your son and even your mother.” She touched his face. “And I told you that you have me too. When I make a promise, I keep it.”
He hugged her. “You’re the closest friend I’ve had in a long time.”
She put her arms around him. “I care about you very much.”
He kissed her cheek. “I’m in love with you, Layla.” He let her go. “I’m so damn in love with you.”
She turned and walked to the bed. “My mom’s throwing a party for me tonight. She always does when I get out.”
“Did you hear what I just said?” He marched to the bed and turned her around. “I said I’m in love with you, Layla.” He pulled her into a passionate kiss that stole every breath she owned. “I wanna be with you.”
“How would that be possible if you’re hiding in here?” She closed the suitcase and picked it up. “You said the world was my oyster. Isn’t it yours too?” She got her purse off the dresser and took out a piece of paper. “Here is my cell number, house number, and email address.” She scribbled the information and handed it to him. “I’m only a phone call away.”
“That’s too far for me.” He folded the paper and put it in his pocket. “I don’t suppose I can interest you in a game of dominoes? If I win, you stay?”
“If you want to see me again, then you have to see me outside these walls.” She kissed him. “Goodbye, Cross.”
****
“I mean it.” Warren Whitaker maneuvered his fat body around the kitchen table as he examined the German chocolate layer cake. “I’m sixty-five years old, and that’s too old to be having any drama tonight.”
He peeked over his glasses at his stepdaughter Valerie. Valerie snatched a cracker out of her mouth.
“Why are you looking at me?”
Shanti and Aliyah giggled in the doorway.
“Seriously.” Valerie finished the cracker. “Like I’d do something to ruin Layla’s party.” She turned to the curvy, light-skinned woman behind her. “I wouldn’t do that, Momma.”
“With all due respect honey…” Vanessa got the frosted vanilla cupcakes out of the refrigerator. “You know how you get around Corrine.”
Valerie twisted across the kitchen. “I don’t see why the heifer has to come here in the first place.”
Warren leaned up with his lips poked to the side. “Don’t you think Layla would want both of her sisters here?”
Valerie looked at her manicured fingernails. “As long as Corrine stays out of my face, everything will be fine.”
Shanti glanced at Aliyah. If only she had a dollar for every time her aunt had said that and then exploded the minute Corrine walked through the door.
“Lord, Jesus.” Vanessa set the cupcakes on a plastic tray. “I used to love it when we got together, but lately you and Corrine have ruined every party or reunion we’ve had. For tonight, can you just remember its Layla’s time? Please?”
“Fine,” Valerie spat as she sashayed out of the kitchen.
Shanti smiled at her grandmother. Leave it to Vanessa to hold it down when everyone else acted a fool. Shanti and Vanessa had a lot in common. Neither could stand confrontation or arguing and preferred to settle things through conversation. If push came to shove, both could handle their business. But they usually injected common sense into even the most chaotic situations.
Shanti looked at Aliyah again. You got on Aunt Val, Grandma. Now get on this one beside me.
“Oh and another thing.” Vanessa turned from the counter with her finger up. “Sweetie pie, can you please be nice to your mother tonight?”
Aliyah stuck her neck out. “You talking to me?”
“Who do you think?” Warren pushed his glasses up. “You’re the only one been acting like a fool. I told you to stop being that way with your momma. She won’t be here forever.”
Aliyah rolled her eyes. “I should be so lucky.”
“Liyah,” Shanti nudged her. “Don’t say that.”
“It’s the truth.”
“Hush your mouth right now,” Vanessa said. “You know you don’t want anything to happen to Layla. Let’s not forget that’s my daughter too. So watch what you say. If something happened to Layla tomorrow, you’d be the first standing up here crying.”
“Shit.” Aliyah huffed.
“And watch your mouth in my house.” Vanessa stared her up and down. “I don’t even recognize you anymore, Liyah. What happened to my sweet grandbaby?”
“Yeah, what is wrong with you, girl?” Warren’s belly wobbled when he leaned up from the cake. “What the hell did Layla do to have you acting like this?”
“That’s what I’d like to know,” Shanti said. “It’s getting old, Liyah. It’s getting real old.”
“Whatever.” She pulled at her tight pants. “We need some music up in this piece. It’s dead as hell.” She walked out the room in four-inch, backless heels.
“Has that child lost her mind?” Warren pointed to the doorway. “Tell me I’m wrong, but she didn’t just come to this house in them tight-ass pants and them hooker-heels.”
“You think this is bad?” Shanti walked across to her grandmother. “You should’ve seen what she had on this morning.” She grabbed a cupcake. “The outfit made Nicki Minaj look like a choir girl.”
“Patrick lets her walk around looking like that?” Warren licked frosting off the spoon. “Hell, you put her on a street corner in that outfit, and men would be rolling up with coupons.”
“She doesn’t listen to him.” Shanti savored the moist cupcake. “She does what she wants.”
“And what does she do?” Vanessa went to the cabinet and got a sack of paper plates and plastic cups. “Besides dressing like she belongs on a pole?”
“We know what she does.” Warren passed his wife a look. “We’re just hoping we’re wrong.”
Vanessa took the plates out of the plastic wrap and stacked them. “I’ll talk to her.”
“Good luck,” Shanti mumbled as she finished the cupcake.
Obscene rap music blasted from the living room.
“What the hell?” Warren waddled toward the doorway.
Vanessa set the cups down and rushed past her husband. “Uh-uh. Not in my house.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“Liyah?” Vanessa ran into the living room with Shanti and Warren right behind her. “Liyah!”
Aliyah twerked to a Pitbull song. David wiggled on the couch with his hands up as if he were in a club.
Shanti pulled her from the floor, shouting, “Liyah!”
“What, girl?” Liyah asked as she twisted, rubbing her hips. “This is my jam. You know I love me some Pitbull.”
Vanessa gasped at the sight of her husband dancing. “David.”
“Huh?” He opened his eyes and stopped wiggling. “Oh. What? I kinda like Pitbull.”
“Pitbull?” Vanessa turned the radio off. “It’s time for his behind to go to the pound.”
“It’s just music. Dang.” Aliyah patted her hair. “I wish I didn’t have to come to this damn party in the first place.”
Valerie walked in. “What’s going on?”
“She was listening to Snoop Dogg or Pit whoever…” Warren pointed to the entertainment system. “And twisting up in here like she lost every part of her mind.”
“Yeah, and your husband sitting over there twisting to the mess too,” Vanessa said.
Val sighed and walked to the couch. “David.”
He chuckled. “What?”
She sat beside him as he said, “I was just having a good time, babe.” He kissed her cheek. “We said we were gonna enjoy ourselves tonight, right?”
“Like that’s gonna happen,” Aliyah said. “Why are we wasting our time with this shit anyway?”
“Watch your mouth, girl,” Valerie said.
“Yeah, you’re not gonna be talking like this in my house,” Vanessa said. “You know I don’t tolerate disrespect.”
“I ain’t trying to be disrespectful.” Aliyah looked around the room. “But I’m the only one honest here. Why every time she gets out of the crazy house we throw a party like she’s been on vacation? What is there to celebrate?”
“We do it to support her and let her know we’re here for her on her journey,” Valerie said.
“What journey?” Aliyah stomped around. “I’m sick and tired of everyone acting like the world revolves around Layla. It’s like she’s all anyone in this family cares about.”
“That’s not true, honey,” Vanessa said.
“We know this time is gonna turn out just like all the other times,” Aliyah continued. “She’s gonna get out and be okay for a little while. Then she will fall off again. We’re celebrating her failures.”
“She has a problem, Liyah.” Valerie stood. “And, unlike you, she’s trying to get help for it.”
“Unlike me?” Aliyah sashayed up to her. “That’s rich coming from you, Aunt Val. I admit I can’t stand my momma, but I don’t jump down her throat every time I see her. I don’t blame her because I can’t have babies.”
She lunged at her. “You little…!”
“Babe!” David stood and grabbed Val. “Just cool it.”
“How could you say that, Liyah?” Shanti shouted. “Do you even care whose feelings you hurt?”
David pulled the tearful Valerie close. “Don’t cry, baby. She didn’t mean it.”
“I did mean it, just like I mean every other thing I say!” Aliyah turned around in a circle. “I’m sick of putting Band-Aids on issues. Momma will never change! As soon as we accept that, the better we’ll be.”
“Why did you come here then?” David asked. “If you think this is just a waste of time?”
“She came to make Momma miserable,” Shanti said. “Didn’t you, Liyah?”
Liyah sat in the chair in the corner and crossed her legs. “Well, she’s made me miserable all my life, so it’s time to repay the favor.”
“Let me just say this again in case folks forgot,” Vanessa said as she raised her arm. “This is supposed to be a happy occasion for Layla. I don’t want any crap from anybody. I’m not putting up with it.” She looked at Valerie and Aliyah. “And if anyone can’t swallow their disgust or hate for a few hours, then they can get up and leave.”
Aliyah’s cell phone rang. She pried the phone out of her back pocket and said, “Ooh, that’s my baby.” Then she rushed out of the room.
Warren shook his head. “That child…I’m telling you.”
“Leave it alone, Daddy Warren,” Valerie said. “Momma, I’ll do my best to just let things go tonight. All right?” She walked to her and kissed her cheek.
Vanessa patted Valerie’s hair. “Thank you, baby.”
A car door slammed outside, and David went to the window. “It’s Corrine and Layla.”
Everyone looked at Valerie.
“What?” She smiled as if the very action gave her pain. “Let Layla and my darling baby sister in.” She batted her eyes. “I can’t wait to see Corrine again.”
“Lord…have mercy…Jesus.” Warren exhaled.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it.” Shanti rushed down the hall and to the front door. She did a quick prayer for things to go smoothly for the rest of the night, even though she wasn’t convinced it would help. She took a deep breath and opened the door.
Layla threw her arms out. “There’s my beautiful baby girl!” She pulled Shanti into her arms and kissed her all over her face.
“Momma!” She laughed. “Stop! You just saw me the other day.”
“So?” Layla kept kissing her. “I could see you every minute and still miss you.”
Corrine walked in saying, “I see Val and David are here already.” She scrunched up her face. “I’m sure tonight will be interesting.”
Layla closed the door, asking, “Is Liyah here?”
“She’s somewhere around here on her phone.”
Shanti walked toward the living room with the women behind her.
“Momma, where are you?” Layla shouted.
“Is that my baby?” Vanessa grabbed Layla in the doorway of the living room. “Get on in here, girl!” She drowned Layla in kisses. “How are you?”
“I’m good.” Layla wiped Vanessa’s lipstick off her cheeks. “I’m glad to be out that’s for sure.”
Valerie rushed to Layla and hugged her. “Hey, Lay!”
“How are you doing, Val?”
“Fine.” She stepped back and took a long look at Layla. “It’s a crime how you manage to look so good no matter what’s going on.”
David held his arms out to Layla. “Where’s my sugar?”
“Hello, Mr. David.” Layla hugged him. “It’s so good to see you.”
He kissed her cheek. “Val’s right. You do look great.”
“Thanks.” Layla touched his lavender, silk shirt. “You look all sharp.” She flicked his chin. “Goatee all trimmed and hair all smooth.”
“What can I say?” David pulled on his collar. “Gotta look good for my girl, Layla, don’t I?”
“Am I crazy?” Warren waddled through the group. “Did this girl just walk up in my house and hug everyone but me?”
Layla shrieked. “Daddy Warren!”
“Girl, you better get over here and give me some sugar.” He hugged her and kissed her cheek. “I bet you’re glad to be out.”
“And then some,” Layla answered as she tossed her purse on the chair.
“They aren’t lying either,” Warren said. “You do look good.”
“Yeah, you’re all smiling and glowing.” Corrine chuckled. “Maybe I need to check into Wellington if it does a sista this good.”
“You’d definitely fit in there,” Valerie whispered.
David pulled her close. “Cool it.”
Shanti held her breath, hoping to God that Valerie could keep her promise for once. Corrine glided past the others in a dress so tight Shanti couldn’t imagine how she’d be able to sit down.
Corrine greeted Val. “What’s up?”
Val shot back, “You mean besides my blood pressure?”
“Val.” David put his hand on her waist. “How are you doing, Corrine?”
“I’m fine, now that I see you.” She kissed his cheek, watching Valerie. “I love that shirt. Lavender’s my favorite color, but I’m sure you already know that.”
“Uh…” He looked around. “We all know that right?”
Shanti dropped her head and exhaled. Please don’t trip, Aunt Val. Please.
“Sorry your blood pressure is high tonight, Val.” Corrine wiggled her French tipped fingers. “Maybe if you weren’t so salty, it wouldn’t be hig
h.”
“Ooo,” Warren mumbled as he covered his mouth.
“Corrine,” Vanessa interjected. “This is Layla’s night. We don’t need any craziness.”
“I definitely didn’t mean that as a jab.” Valerie nodded with the fakest smile Shanti had ever seen as Corrine continued. “I just meant Val needs a little less salt in her diet.”
“You’re so right, Corrine.” Valerie bounced on her heels. “What I’m gonna start doing is staying away from anything with fat.” She winked. “That would eliminate the salt in my diet.”
“I know you’re not calling me fat,” Corrine said.
Valerie put her hand on her hip. “You said it.”
“God,” Layla whispered.
“I said: Don’t start this mess,” Vanessa said.
“Val.” David grabbed her arm. “Let it go.”
“What?” She tore her arm from David. “She asked a question, and I answered it.”
Corrine wiggled her neck and her finger. “Honey, you won’t find fat anywhere on this body. I guarantee it.”
David smirked as if to confirm Corrine’s declaration.
“I won’t find a man on it either,” Valerie said.
Corrine’s lip dropped.
“Ah shit.” Warren went to the doorway. “Let me go get Layla’s cake before all hell breaks loose.” Then he ran out of the room.
“Cool it!” Vanessa stood in between her daughters. “How many times do I have to say we won’t have this mess tonight?”
“I’m fine, Momma.” Corrine moved away from the others. “Once again, it’s Val with the problem and not me.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“Val, sit down.”
David helped her to the couch and sat beside her. Aliyah walked in with her phone to her ear. She grimaced when she saw Layla.
Shanti groaned. Liyah, please don’t start. We just put out one fire.
“Hey, Liyah.” Layla inched toward her. “How are you?”
Aliyah cut her gaze to Shanti just as Warren breezed into the room with the cake. “Here we go,” he chimed, setting it on the living room table.